Method of exercise for pectoral muscle development

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for developing the pectoral muscle of a female by immobilizing the bicep and tricep muscles of the arm while the arm is moved through a series of exercise positions. The apparatus utilized to immobilize these muscles is a saddlelike member that consists effectively of two sections positioned substantially at right angles to each other with a bight portion where the two meet. These two sections and the bight portion have a U-shaped cross section that embraces the underside of the elbow area of the arm and maintains the elbow in a bent condition. The saddle-like member is structurally rigid to prevent extension of the arm. It may be in the form of a solid dense material or it may be in the form of a hollow shell that can be filled with shot, sand, water, etc. A strap is attached to the opposite sides in the area of the bight portion of the saddle-like member for securing it to arm of the female exerciser.

ted States Gaboriault METHOD OF EXERCISE FOR PECTORAL MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT[76] Inventor: Albert G. Gaboriault, 401 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket, RI.02861 [22] Filed: Oct. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 300,451

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Bent Arm Laterals, Strength and Health, October,1972, p. 54.

Bent Arm Pullovers, Strength and Health, August, 1972, p. 46.

20 New Ideas to Improve Your Swing in 1965, Golf Digest, Jan. 1965, p.39.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for developing the pectoral muscleof a female by immobilizing the bicep and tricep muscles of the armwhile the arm is moved through a series of exercise positions. Theapparatus utilized to immobilize these muscles is a saddle-like memberthat consists effectively of two sections positioned substantially atright angles to each other with a bight portion where the two meet.These two sections and the bight portion have a U-shaped cross sectionthat embraces the underside of the elbow area of the arm and maintainsthe elbow in a bent condition. The saddle-like member is structurallyrigid to prevent extension of the arm. It may be in the form of a soliddense material or it may be in the form of a hollow shell that can befilled with shot, sand, water, etc. A strap is attached to the oppositesides in the area of the bight portion of the saddle-like member forsecuring it to arm of the female exerciser.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU DEC 4 I973 FIG.2

FIG.4

FIGS

METHOD OF EXERCISE FOR PECTORAL MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Today more and more women are learning the benefit of physicalfitness. Exercise programs for women are regularly seen on television.Additionally health spas are being built in hundreds of cities acrossthe United States. Women are using all sorts of devices for the purposeof building and/or toning their muscles. One of the muscles singled outfor special development by the women has been the pectoral muscle, oneof four muscles of the breast. Most of the women attempting to build upthe size of their breasts are doing so to increase their sex appeal. Asimportant as it is to increase the size of the breast, it is equallyimportant to the women that the muscles of the arms do not becomeoverdeveloped in a masculine manner.

The general concept in exercising is to move the limbs either with orwithout resistance to put a strain on the muscle being exercised so thattoning of the muscle will result along with enlargement of the muscle.As can be easily understood, where resistance is employed the muscleswill tone faster and develop in size quicker. As a result, there are anynumber of weight and spring devices available for exercising themuscles. A problem, however, for the female hoping to enlarge the sizeof her breast is that when using any of the devices of the past herbicep and tricep muscles of the arm are built up at the same time. Forexample, by doing curls with dumbbells, the pectoral muscle of thebreast may be toned and enlarged but at the same time the biceps willbecome enlarged which is undesirable from the females point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method and apparatus of the currentinvention allows a single muscle to be exercised, namely the peetoralmuscle. The arm is first positioned in a certain definite position withthe forearm somewhat at right angles to the upper arm area. Next thesaddle-like device is strapped to the elbow of the female wearer. Thedevice immobiles the muscles of the arm and it prevents extension of thearm from its right angular position. The saddle-like device is usuallymade of a rather dense material so that it has a large weight per unitof length ratio. Alternatively the saddle-like device may consist of ahollow shell that can be filled with shot, sand, water, etc. The mass ofthe saddle-like member provides the resistance to put a strain on thepectoral muscle so that toning and increased development of the breastwill result. Additionally the immobilization of the muscles of the armprevent any unwanted growth in the size of these muscles.

It is an object of the invention to provide an exercising method forafemale capable of preventing development of her arm muscles while thepectoral muscle of her breast is being developed.

It is another object of the invention to provide an exercising methodthat includes the step of applying a weight above and below the elbowwhich exerts a'resistance force on the pectoral muscle of a femalesbreast while immobilizing the bicep muscle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of theexercising device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner in whichthe exercising device is used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 theexercising device comprises a saddle-like member 10 formed with a U-shaped cross section and shaped with substantially a right-angle bend tosnugly fit the elbow area of an arm. The saddle 10 is preferably formedof a dense material which exhibits a large weight per unit length ratioand may be lined with a sponge-like material 12. The outside of thesaddle has a cover 13 passing around it. Broadly the saddle consistseffectively of two sections 14 and 16 meeting at a bight portionindicated at 18. At bight portion 18 a pair of elongate slots 20 areformed through which a strap 22 may pass. The elongate slots 20 arelocated on opposite sides of the upstanding portion of the U-shapedcross section so that the strap may be passed through these two portionsand the device may be secured to the elbow section of the user asillustrated more particularly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Strap 20 couldutilize a buckle for securing its ends together or a hook-and-loopstructure could be used.

As an alternative embodiment, the saddle-like member 10 could be formedas a hollow shell that could be filled with shot, sand, water, etc. Inthis embodiment the female using the device could vary and build up theamount of strain to be provided by the device as the strength and sizeof her pectoral muscles increased.

In using the device of the invention, a female can lie on a flat surfacesuch as a board 30 and elevate one end with a bracket such as 32 (seeFIG. 3) so that the head is higher than the feet. With the exercisingdevice attached to the elbow so that the forearm is held at an angle tothe upper portion of the arm, arcuate motions such as generallyindicated in FIG. 5 by the arrows 33 would be made. This movement willexercise the pectoral muscle thus enabling it to be toned and alsoincrease in size. At the same time the saddle-like device preventsmovement of the upper portion of the arm and prevents the biceps fromdeveloping.

For a variation, a female could lie on the same flat surface 30 onlythis time she would position herself with her feet higher than her head.In similar fashion arcuate motions with the elbows would be entertainedand again by keeping the forearm substantially immobile relative to theupper section of the arm, this will prevent the bicep from developing.Only the pectoral muscle will be doing the pulling during the arcuatemotions that are entertained as diagrammed in FIG. 5.

An additional variation, would involve moving the elbow through acircular motion. In this exercise the circular path would besubstantially in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of thefemales body while lying on board 30.

Further forms of exercise may be entertained by using the device of thisinvention by standing and using a trunk twisting exercise with thedevice affixed to the elbow. One can simply stand in place and twistwhich will exercise the waistline muscles in the small of the back.

In instances where the weights as provided in the device are not heavyenough, the exerciser could hold an additional small weight in her handto compensate for a repetitive motion.

2. A method of developing the pectoral muscle as recited in claim 1wherein the repetitive motion is an arcuate motion that first brings theelbow toward the chest and then reverses the path and takes the elbowtoward the back. v

3. A method of developing the pectoral muscle as recited in claim 1wherein the repetitive motion is a circular motion in which the elbowtravels in a plane sub stantially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofbody of the exerciser.

1. A method of developing the pectoral muscle comprising the steps ofapplying a weight having a constraining device above and below the elbowto hold the elbow in a fixed bent condition to immobilize the bicepmuscle, and moving the arm from the shoulder through a repetitivemotion.
 2. A method of developing the pectoral muscle as recited inclaim 1 wherein the repetitive motion is an arcuate motion that firstbrings the elbow toward the chest and then reverses the path and takesthe elbow toward the back.
 3. A method of developing the pectoral muscleas recited in claim 1 wherein the repetitive motion is a circular motionin which the elbow travels in a plane substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of body of the exerciser.